Mandatory paper on Meghalaya introduced
Shillong, Aug 7: The Meghalaya cabinet has decided to remove optional subjects from the Meghalaya Civil Service competitive exams and introduce a new compulsory paper focused on Meghalaya.
Currently, there are over 23 optional subjects.
Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Thursday said that optional subjects in the MCS exams often create an uneven playing field, as the level of difficulty and marking standards vary across the 23 available options. This sometimes giving candidates an unfair advantage depending on the subject they choose, he added.
“It is a huge task for MPSC to conduct these optional exams that are there and therefore based on the recommendations that are given by the MPSC and by MPSC Reform Committee, this particular suggestion has been given and we have decided in the cabinet to accept that suggestion and this optional subject paper that was there in the MCS competitive exams is now going to be removed and in the future rather we will have a subject which will be on Meghalaya,” Sangma told reporters after chairing a cabinet meeting.
According to the chief minister, the decision to introduce a subject on Meghalaya is aimed at ensuring that MCS officers have a deep understanding of the state’s unique characteristics, history, and culture. This will enable them to serve the state more effectively.
“Therefore, we will remove the optional subject and we will introduce a subject on our state of Meghalaya,” he added.
The chief minister informed that there will be a committee or group of officials who will work out and recommend on what kinds of subjects and what aspects should be put in there.
“This was a very important decision and a very important reform which will help in conducting the MCS exams in a much faster and quicker manner and more importantly it will allow a level playing field for all the candidates who applied,” he asserted.
